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The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

April is the Month of the Military Child

Visit our Month of the Military Child webpage for celebration ideas and additional information.

In 2014, the State of New York adopted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (the Compact) into law. The Compact addresses the challenges facing military children as a result of their frequent relocations. It establishes a framework for uniform treatment of military children as they transfer between school districts and states. The compact outlines the requirements that school districts must adhere to when enrolling and educating children of active duty military personnel.

Advanced Registration for Students Covered Under the Interstate Compact

In November 2021, Education Law Section 3304 was amended to require advanced enrollment. School districts must permit preliminary enrollment by remote registration, without charge, for students covered under the Interstate Compact. Additional information can be referenced in questions 13 and 17 of the Interstate Compact FAQ.

New Transitional J Teaching Certificate for Military Spouses

The Board of Regents created a new Transitional J certificate for military spouses. Effective November 4, 2020, the Transitional J certificate requirements will be listed on the Search Certification Requirements webpage and the application will be available in the TEACH system.  The Transitional J certificate is valid for one year from its effective date to give military spouses time to pass the tests required for certification. If they pass the Educating All Students (EAS) test and Content Specialty Tests(s) prior to the expiration date of the Transitional J certificate, the certificate may be renewed once for an additional two years.  An overview of the certificate requirements is available on the Office of Teaching Initiatives website. 

Military spouses who have questions about teaching certification can contact the Office of Teaching Initiatives at tcert@nysed.gov.

Additional Resources

Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) Training Resources

The MIC3 offers various training programs and resources to assist school districts, schools, military families, and state governments with implementing the Compact successfully. These training and resource materials are provided at no cost. Learn more about the MIC3 training resources.

SchoolQuest

SchoolQuest was created by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) to help parents of military-connected children manage the process of school transitions more effectively. This is a free service. Additional information can be referenced on the SchoolQuest website.